FILE - Cowboys middle linebacker Jaylon Smith (54) celebrates with defensive tackle Trysten Hill (97) after a stop in the first half of a game against the Miami Dolphins on Sunday, Sept. 22, 2019, at AT&T Stadium in Arlington.(Shaban Athuman / Staff Photographer)

With the NFL draft over, the Dallas Cowboys’ 90-man roster is essentially set, meaning we can finally start to project what the team’s 53-man roster will look like come Week 1.

The Cowboys are still waiting on defensive ends Aldon Smith and Randy Gregory to be reinstated by the league, which is when they’ll officially be a part of Dallas’ 90-man roster. For this exercise, we are going to operate as if both players are on the roster.

Some slight changes have been made to the ways rosters are constructed. Teams still must cut down to a 53-man roster, but they can elevate two players from the practice squad -- which has expanded from 10 to 12 spots for 2020 -- to the gameday roster. Essentially, gameday rosters will have 55 players although two of them technically are practice squad members.

With that in mind, let’s dive into a way-too-early prediction of the Cowboys’ 53-man roster:

QUARTERBACK (2)

Dak Prescott

Cooper Rush

Quarterback is straightforward because the Cowboys seemingly have elected not to bring in veteran competition for Cooper Rush’s backup job. With or without a long-term contract, Dak Prescott will be the starter -- and a damn good one at that. While Rush doesn’t have any real competition for the backup gig, the battle between seventh-round pick Ben DiNucci and Clayton Thorson for the No. 3 spot should be an exciting competition to monitor throughout training camp (if that happens).

Given that the Cowboys used draft capital on DiNucci, he’s the heavy favorite to win that race.

Ben "FCS Houdini" DiNucci, imo. Eludes one defender, shakes off the other, escapes the pocket while keeping his eyes downfield and completes a 16-yard pass. Just ridiculous. #Cowboyspic.twitter.com/HaJIZYacVI

There’s a chance that DiNucci’s Houdini-like escapes and his touch on deep balls could force the Cowboys to keep him on the 53-man roster. But the ability to elevate two players from practice squad each week gives Dallas the flexibility to save a roster spot by slotting their No. 3 quarterback on the practice squad, so Prescott and Rush are the only passers to make the 53 here.

RUNNING BACK (4)

Ezekiel Elliott

Tony Pollard

Rico Dowdle

Jamize Olawale (fullback)

Ezekiel Elliott and Tony Pollard are secure, which leaves the No. 3 running back and fullback spots up for grabs.

As the incumbent, Jamize Olawale should be the heavy favorite to win the fullback job. He’s been one of Dallas’ better special teamers since joining the club, and his versatile skill set could be an asset in Mike McCarthy’s offense. Undrafted free agent Sewo Olonilua will be Olawale’s primary competition because he has similar size and athleticism to Olawale while being much younger and cheaper.

If the competition is close, the Cowboys will likely side with youth. But Olawale’s experience at the position and his special teams ability should give him the nod over Olonilua, who is transitioning from running back to fullback.

The No. 3 running back competition is sure to be hot and heavy, as rookie undrafted free agents Rico Dowdle and Darius Anderson will compete with Jordan Chunn, who was a member of the practice squad last season.

Impressed with Dowdle's vision when running behind pullers and his ability to accelerate to the 2nd level out of his cuts is top-notch. #Cowboyspic.twitter.com/9PB2lsVKTY

While it’s anybody’s guess as to who will win the job, Dowdle has the most natural talent and best vision of the three, making him the smart bet as long as he can prove to be a special teams contributor.

WIDE RECEIVER (6)

Amari Cooper

Michael Gallup

CeeDee Lamb

Cedrick Wilson

Jon’Vea Johnson

Ventell Bryant

The top three spots at wide receiver are secure, where Amari Cooper, Michael Gallup and rookie CeeDee Lamb make up one of the most talented receiver triumvirates in the NFL. The remaining two or three spots are still up in the air, and it’s anybody’s guess as to who will come out on top.

Former sixth-round pick Cedrick Wilson is probably the most well-rounded and smoothest route runner of the bunch, so he should be the betting favorite to win the No. 4 gig.

Jon’Vea Johnson would have made the team last year if not for a troubling case of butterfingers that ruined all of the currency he built up as an improving route runner who can stretch the field with 4.4 speed. Hopefully, Johnson became extra acquainted with the Jugs machine during his time on the practice squad in an attempt to sure up his hands. He has a great shot to make the roster if he’s more reliable at the catch point.

In today’s NFL where passing is king, it’s a smart idea to keep six receivers on the roster just in case. At 6-3, 205 pounds, Ventell Bryant has the size and movement skills to develop into a contributor. In 2019, he spent training camp with the Bengals before signing with the Cowboys’ practice squad after roster cuts. Bryant obviously made a good impression because he was called up to the 53-man roster in early October -- a spot he maintained through the rest of the season.

Outside of Bryant, Johnson and Wilson, Devin Smith has the best chance to make the 53-man roster. However, his inability to be an effective special teamer means he will need to prove to be a much better pure receiver to compensate. His best bet is to overtake Johnson as the team’s speedy deep threat.

Keep an eye on undrafted free agent Kendrick Rogers, whose size (6-3) and ball skills could earn him a role as a red-zone weapon if he can prove to be effective enough on special teams.

TIGHT END (3)

Blake Jarwin

Blake Bell

Dalton Schultz

While there was a lot of speculation about the Cowboys potentially drafting a tight end in the middle rounds, passing on one makes this position group pretty easy to call.

Blake Jarwin is the obvious No. 1 tight end who is finally out of Jason Witten’s shadow and primed to have a breakout year.

Blake Bell was signed in free agency and should give Dallas an exceedingly capable No. 2 tight end who can contribute as an in-line blocker more than Jarwin can.

Dalton Schultz is a player who does a lot of the dirty work but gets none of the credit. He is the best blocker of the three but is also the worst receiver. If Schultz can ever figure out how to develop more as a route runner, he could become an outstanding No. 2 tight end. Until then, Schultz will struggle to see the field.

OFFENSIVE LINE (9)

Tyron Smith (tackle)

Zack Martin (guard)

La’el Collins (tackle)

Connor Williams (guard/tackle)

Joe Looney (center/guard)

Connor McGovern (center/guard)

Tyler Biadasz (center/guard)

Brandon Knight (tackle)

Adam Redmond (center/guard)

The Cowboys will have some fierce competition for the starting spots at left guard and center, but in terms of the 53-man roster, there’s actually not a ton of competition. Tyron Smith, Zack Martin, La’el Collins, Connor Williams, Joe Looney, Connor McGovern and Tyler Biadasz are all locks to make it.

Brandon Knight is the overwhelming favorite to be the next offensive lineman to make the roster, but he will see some competition from Mitch Hyatt, whom he beat out for a spot last year. Undrafted free agent Terence Steele will also be there at tackle, but he should focus on just trying to make the practice squad given his raw skill set.

The ninth spot on the line gets a little tricky. Adam Redmond is, by far, the best offensive lineman left on the 90-man roster, but the Cowboys already have ample depth at guard and center while being quite thin at tackle.

The Cowboys could keep Hyatt on the roster to provide more depth at tackle, but Williams’ ability to play there should give them enough confidence to keep Redmond, who was one of the more impressive offensive linemen in camp last year, on the interior line.

“I want six rushers and I want four inside players (on the defensive line). ... We’re going to score points, so we better have enough pass rushers on our team because we’re going to be in those kinds of games. ... It’s fun to score 35 points every game, but it’s hard.”

Anae isn't the bendiest dude but he corners efficiently using the reach-n-run technique to flatten his rush. Look at the violent reach with the outside arm when cornering - it facilitates turning his hips toward QB.

Considering his skill set, work ethic and pass-rush ability, Anae is a good bet to win one of the two remaining spots, leaving Armstrong and Jackson as the front-runners to secure the last available job. While Jackson displayed intriguing growth throughout his rookie year, Armstrong’s athletic ability and more diverse pass-rush repertoire gives him the advantage.

At defensive tackle, Gerald McCoy, Dontari Poe and Neville Gallimore are locks to make the roster, leaving Trysten Hill, Antwaun Woods and undrafted free agent Garrett Marino to compete for the last tackle spot. Marino has a more realistic shot to make the practice squad.

In terms of Hill vs. Woods, Hill is the higher-upside player who has more draft capital invested in him. But his best fit is at tackle -- a spot where Gallimore is already penciled in as the primary backup -- not nose. Plus, the Cowboys have a couple of ends who can reduce down to tackle if needed. Outside of Woods, Dallas doesn’t have anyone who can be trusted to back up Poe at the nose, so it makes more sense to keep Woods over Hill.

It should be noted that Woods has yet to sign his exclusive rights tender, which brings into question whether he’ll even be part of the team when camp opens. If Woods and the Cowboys part ways, expect whichever nose tackle they then sign to replace Woods’ spot in this projection. Unless he’s gotten significantly more stout at the point of attack and when defending double-teams, Hill just doesn’t have the skill set to be an effective nose, even in a backup role.

If the Cowboys want to keep Hill, they may have to go short at another position.

LINEBACKER (6)

Leighton Vander Esch

Jaylon Smith

Sean Lee

Joe Thomas

Luke Gifford

Francis Bernard

Jaylon Smith and Leighton Vander Esch are secure, but their alignments in the defense certainly aren’t. According to The Dallas Morning News’ Michael Gehlken, Dallas could move Smith to one of the outside linebacker positions (SAM or WILL) while Vander Esch takes over MIKE responsibilities, a good sign that his recovery from neck surgery is going well.

Sean Lee and Joe Thomas are safe bets to make the roster. Despite his age and all of the injuries, Lee proved to still have something left in the tank last year. His experience and leadership will be important as the Cowboys transition to new defensive philosophies. Thomas is the perfect reserve linebacker, as he can play all three spots and excels on special teams. The Cowboys are lucky to have a player of Thomas’ caliber on the bench.

It gets much more interesting after those top four spots, as Luke Gifford, Justin March and undrafted free agent Francis Bernard will vie for the last two. Gifford’s work ethic and skill set endeared him to the previous regime, and there’s a good chance that happens again this year.

#Cowboys LB Francis Bernard is one of the UDFAs that I think has a chance to make the roster. He plays VERY hard - motor is always running red-hot. He has adequate recognition skills, pretty good feel in zone coverage. Think he develop into a ST ace. pic.twitter.com/sQAgHFYClj

In an upset, don’t be surprised if Bernard earns a roster spot over March. Bernard’s intensity, red-hot motor and likable athleticism should enable him to develop into a special teams ace under coordinator John Fassel’s tutelage. Plus, his coverage ability and adequate instincts give him upside as a defender.

Wilson is younger, cheaper and has more upside than Thompson, making him a better bet.

At corner, don’t rule out the possibility that C.J. Goodwin forces his way onto the roster on the back of his elite special teams ability. That said, Robinson’s special teams ability could make Goodwin’s skill set redundant and unnecessary given Goodwin’s lack of upside at corner.

Chris Westry is the dark horse, with the size (6-4), length (33 3/4-inch arms) and speed (4.31 40-yard dash) the Cowboys seemingly covet at corner. Given Westry’s age and inexpensive contract, he could beat out Worley or Maurice Canady for one of the last defensive back spots. He was so raw technically last year that it seems unlikely he’d improve enough by camp, especially considering how the coronavirus pandemic has affected players’ ability to effectively train. It’s more likely that Westry spends another year on the practice squad before truly vying for a roster spot in 2021.

SPECIALISTS (3)

Greg Zuerlein (kicker)

Chris Jones (punter)

L.P. Ladouceur (long snapper)

The Cowboys should have quite the kicking competition on their hands at camp, as Greg Zuerlein will face off with Kai Forbath for the job.

Zuerlein has the early lead because of his relationship with Fassel from their time together with the Rams. But don’t rule out Forbath, who not only has a lot of swag, but has also proven to be unafraid of the big lights and pressure associated with playing for the Cowboys. He went 10 for 10 on field goals -- eight of which were from 40-plus yards -- in three games with a star on his helmet late last season. Plus, Zuerlein is coming off one of his worst seasons as a pro, as injuries reduced his accuracy and led to him making just 72.7% of his kicks in 2019 -- 28th among all kickers.